Name plate device or the like



Nov. 20, 1951 H. LICHTY 2,575,721

NAME PLATE DEVICE OR THE LIKE Filed June 10. 1948 WITNESSES I N VEN TOR:

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 20, 1951 NAME PLATE DEVICE OR THE LIKE Harvey Lichty, Emmaus, Pa., assignor to L. F.

Grammes & Sons, Inc., Allentown, Pa., a corporation of Maryland Application June 10, 1948, Serial No. 32,112

Claims.

This invention relates to name plate devices or the like intended for attachment to various articles or products of manufacture such as refrigerators, washing machines, automobiles, etc. to indicate the make of the products and to distinguish them from others of the same general kinds.

The chief aim of my invention is to provide a device of the sort referred to which is attractive in appearance; which is simple in construction; which'lends itself to ready and economic production in quantity from sheet materials; and in which the means whereby it is attached to the article or product is entirely concealed from view.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a name plate device conveniently embodying my invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are cross sections taken as indicated respectively by the angled arrows II-II and III-HI in Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views in perspective of corresponding end portions of the component parts of the device, and

Fig. 6 shows the rear of the end portion of the part illustrated in Fig. 4.

In the form herein illustrated by way of example, my improved name plate device comprises a backing plate 6 which is of elongate generally rectangular configuration and adapted to be permanently secured by fastening means such as screws 1 to a supporting surface S of the manufactured article or product. The plate 6 is struck from stiff sheet metal or other suitably strong material, with marginal areas 8 and 9 along the top and bottom thereof outwardly offset-relative to the medial area so as to be spaced somewhat from the supporting surface S when said plate is mounted in position on the article as best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. Along its bottom edge the backing plate 6 has an outwardly and upwardly rolled curl or bead 10 which is interrupted adjacent one end of said plate as at H, and also at other locations therealong as at l2. It is to be particularly noted from Figs. 2 and 6 that, at these interruptions, the edge segments I2 are flattened out into the plane of the straight bottom marginal portion of the backing plate.

Arranged to be mounted over the backing plate 6 is a correspondingly elongate face plate l5 which may be ornamentally configured as shown, and on which may be inscribed or embossed a name, legend or trade-mark as suggested in Fig. 1. The face plate I5 I fashion from relatively thin springy sheet metal or its equivalent, to a length somewhat greater than that of the backing plate 6, and provide it with a rounded peripheral flange so that it will completely conceal the backing plate 6 when applied over the latter. The portion [6 of the flange along the top of the face plate I5 is adapted to be hooked over the plain outwardly-offset continuous top edge 8 of the backing plate 6, while the portion I! along the bottom of said plate is sprung over the curl [0 along the bottom of said backing plate to engage it behind the sharp straight bottom edges of segments I2 with a snap fit. As a result of this construction, the face plate I5 is effectively held against displacement thereafter without necessitating the aid of any special or separate securing means as will be readily understood from Figs. 2 and 3. The longitudinal bulge at I8, with the crosswise indentations IBa along the bottom of the face plate I5, is merely for the purpose of additional ornamentation.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the lower flange portion I! of the face plate I5 is notched adjacent one end as at 19, the location of this notch corresponding with that of the interruption H in the lower edge curl Ill of the backing plate 6. By virtue of this. provision, a small clearance is provided at 20 in Fig. 3 into which the end of a screw driver or other implement can be inserted to pry off the face plate l5 if it is desired to remove it at any time. In the event that, during this operation, the face plate is only partially sprung away, the screw driver can be inserted into others of the interruptions H, which will then be exposed further along the curl H] at the bottom of the backing plate, until said face plate l5 drops of its own accord.

The two components of the device may of course be shaped otherwise than herein shown for the purposes of illustration, without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a name plate device of the character described, a rigid substantially rectangular backing plate adapted to be permanently afiixed to a supporting surface, said plate having upper and lower edge marginal areas outwardly offset relative to its medial area, one such margin being plain edged and the other formed with an outward and upward curl; and a correspondinglyconfigured transversely-springy hollowed-out face plate with a peripheral flange adapted to be applied over the backing plate to completely conceal it, one longitudinal edge portion of said flange being rounded to hook over and engage behind the plain offset edge portion of the backing plate, and the other longitudinal edge portion being likewise rounded to snap over and engage behind the curl along the other offset marginal edge of the backing plate.

2. A name plate device or the like according to claim 1 wherein the curl of the backing plate is interrupted at one point and the rounding at the corresponding edge of the face plate is formed with a registering notch to provide a small clearance opening into which the end of anrimplement such as a screw driver can be inserted to pry ofi said face plate.

3. A name plate device or :the like: accordingv to claim 1, wherein the curl of the backing plate is interrupted at a point adjacent. one end. thereof and the flange at the corresponding edge of the face plate is formed with a registering notch adjacent the correspondingend thereof to provide a small clearance opening into which the end of an implement such as a screw driver can be inserted to loosen said face plate; and wherein the curl of the backing plate is formed with additional notches at intervals of its length likewise for'insertion of the implement if necessary.

4. In a name plate device or the like of the character described, a rigid substantially rectangular backing plate adapted to be permanently afiixed to a supporting'surface, said plate having upper and lower edge marginal areas outwardly offset relative to a flat medial area, one such marginal area being plain edged throughout, and

the other marginal area terminating in an outward and upward curl with interruptions at intervals therealong providing straight bottom edge segments; and a correspondingly-configured transversely-springy hollowed-out face plate with a peripheral flange, adapted to be applied over the backing plate to completely conceal it, the upper longitudinal edge portionof the vflange being rounded to hook over and engage over the plain offset edge of the backing plate, and the bottom longitudinal edge portion of said face plate being likewise, rounded to engage over the curl at the bottom offset portion of said backing plate and to engage; behind the edge segments at the interruptions in said curl with a snap fit.

5; A name plate device or the like according to claim 4, wherein the face plate has a notch in the bottom edge portion of its peripheral flange for registry with one of the interruptions in the curl of the backing plate, into which notch the end of an implement such as a screw driver can be inserted to pry off said face plate.

HARVEY LICH-TY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,949,447 Beck Mar. 6, 1934. 1,969,403 Hoge Aug. 7, 1934 2,178,727 Owens Q V Nov. 7, 1939 

